With the primary election done, it's time to look at the numbers. First, of the more than 39,000 registered voters in the county, less than 10,000 bothered to vote. That's a tad less than 25%. That's just hard to understand. As has become the normal in Loudon County, a majority, about 68%, of the votes cast were in early and absentee voting. 

Below are the unofficial results of the contested elections. Loudon County will have a new sheriff, four new commissioners, a new court clerk and a new Register Of Deeds.

The sheriff's race was about as close as a county wide race could be. Jimmy Davis took the top spot by 255 votes. In fact on election day, Paul Curtis won by one vote. That's about as close as it gets. Coming in the third spot was Marty Ward who only garnered 1,038 votes.

In the Loudon 1st district, seat "A", Chase Randolph won the three man race handily by receiving more votes that the other two candidates combined. 

In what was somewhat of an upset, twenty year incumbent, David Meers, lost to Bill Geames. Geames took the district 1 seat "B" by a 185 vote margin.

In the 2nd district seat "A", four year incumbent, Julia Hurley, lost by the largest margin of any incumbent commissioner in recent history. Hurley's platform was massive development. William Jenkins bested Hurley by 386 votes, more than two to one. Third place was Dennis Lanham. If you combine Jenkins and Lanham's vote, 803 second district voters opposed Hurley's re-election. That's a strong statement by the voters on their opinion of Ms. Hurley.

In 2nd district seat "B" , eight year incumbent, Matthew Tinker, was defeated by former commissioner Rosemary Quillen by 33 votes. Tinker was also a supporter of high density development. Incidentally, eight years ago, Tinker beat then 2nd district seat "B" incumbent Quillen by 21 votes.

In the 5th district seat "A", 28 year incumbent, Harold Duff held off two challengers to hold his seat. Duff was able to pick up slightly more votes than his two challengers combined.

In my race, 5th district seat "B", I defeated long time Lenoir City councilman and current highway superintendent, Eddie Simpson. Like Hurley, Simpson had taken the mass development position. Simpson has served on Lenoir City council for 23 years and as county road superintendent for 12 years.

In another lopsided race, incumbent 6th district commissioner, Adam Waller, spanked Mark Matlock in a big way. Like Hurley and Simpson, Matlock was also promoting mass development. Waller defeated Matlock by more than a two to one margin.

In the 5th district, unexpired term school board race, Melissa Browder held off Larry Brown to take the seat. This will be for just two years.

In the single most lopsided race, Tammy Gallaher steamrolled challenger Rick Arp for the Register of deeds office.

Assistant Loudon County Highway superintendent, Billy Pickel defeated former Loudon County Highway superintendent, Sean Giles (2006-2010). Incidentally, Giles defeated Pickel back in 2006 for the job by 78 votes.